The elected officials of the town council of La Motte unanimously adopted Monday night, a resolution in support of the mining project Authier Sayona Quebec, and on the eve of a meeting between the mining and the ministry of the Environment.
A text by Thomas Deshaies
"Since [the mining representatives] were meeting with the minister today, it is a support that was given to give them the opportunity to do [the mining project], without the BAPE," explains the acting mayor. , Réjean Richard.
As a result of the public consultations, dozens of citizens have asked that the Authier project be submitted to the Environmental Impact Assessment and Review Procedure, including an analysis by the Bureau d'audiences publiques. on the environment (BAPE), the minister had sent out a statement that could not be clearer. If the proponent does not request a BAPE, it will recommend to the government to impose it, under a new section of the Environment Quality Act.
The elected officials, who had declared themselves "neutral" so far, have changed their tune. Mr. Richard says this is because of the municipality's analysis of the report of the hydrogeologist who conducted the study for Sayona and a consultation with departmental officials.
We took the opportunity to study the file in all ways to come to the conclusion that for the esker, there is no problem.
Réjean Richard, Acting Mayor
The elected officials fear that the mining company will redefine its project to make a bigger project if they are obliged to submit to the BAPE. "If it's going to the BAPE, we, we no longer have control, we can not say anything and then it can go up to 3000 or 4000 tons," believes Mr. Richard.
No public meeting
The elected officials of La Motte had announced to organize a public consultation, which has not taken place to date. A meeting will however take place on August 28th.
However, the acting mayor asserts that the municipality has read the citizens' opinion "on the ground", before announcing its support. "The vast silent majority, the project, is something that does not annoy them," he believes.
It's not in our mandate [to ask for a BAPE]. We, our mandate, is to administer the project, to have the best of what could come out for the municipality of La Motte.
Réjean Richard
The acting mayor believes that the position of the municipality is in the interest of the municipality. "It will be very profitable for the municipality of La Motte," he says.
The analysis of the project by the Abitibi-Témiscamingue Groundwater Corporation (SESAT), which is expected by the mayor of Amos, Sébastien D'Astous, has still not been completed. The deputy mayor of La Motte believes that the analysis takes too much time and that is why elected officials did not wait for the results. "They should decide, whether the studies are good or not good. They have papers since May 18, I think it's been a while, "he exclaims.
The Citizen Committee deplores the decision of the elected
"We can clearly see that La Motte's municipal council is working hand-in-hand to achieve this project as quickly as possible, while if we listen to citizens in the assemblies, they want the opposite," says the spokesman. esker Citizen Protection Committee, Rodrigue Turgeon.
The spokesman of the Regroupement vigilance Abitibi-Témiscamingue mine (REVIMAT), Marc Nantel, laments that elected officials have chosen to make a decision without consulting the public more formally. "When we are in a situation where we know that the project will have an impact on an entire region and not just the village, it would have been a lot more appropriate to have a consultation in due form," said Nantel.
Rodrigue Turgeon is confident that the Minister of the Environment will not bow to Sayona Quebec.
When you see a company that arrives with such hay methods, there is no risk to take. Then it's not a last-minute lobbying event that could make her retract.
Rodrigue Turgeon, spokesperson of the Esker Protection Committee
The BAPE would only take six months, according to Sayona Mining
Rodrigue Turgeon believes that it is even more relevant to hold independent consultations when "notes the double speech of Sayona Mining". In a July 5 document for investors, director Dan O'Neil writes that the BAPE process would only take six months.
The representatives of Sayona Québec stated during the public consultations held in Abitibi-Témiscamingue that the process would be more like two to three years. "They always said it would be too long, but in the end, shareholders are assured it will not be that long. In this context,
So looks as though we have to go to BAPE? Which could drag on another 6 months... But they believe the mine will increase in size if we go to BAPE. Seems like a double edged sword.
However, a number of officials seem to think that there is no problem with the mine from past environmental consultants results.
SYA Price at posting:
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